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This section includes any advice and tips for missionaries and overseas Christian workers using the Internet overseas. For an overview of Internet security products available, see www.all-internet-security.com

Some browsers have their own options for dealing with offensive content whilst surfing. Some ISPs also offer filtering of content and block sites that may be offensive, including AOL and UK Online along with some of the Christian ISPs (see the list at OSCAR - Supporter zone - Communications). Occasionally this filtering can be selected or deselected by password from the user (adult) to protect children from such content. There are also 'safe’ search engine options that filter out bad content in search returns. These can sometimes be switched on or off when you search.

There are also various stand alone filtering software programmes around (for both PC and Mac), some of which work reasonably well. Others, though, can have trouble distinguishing the good sites from the bad and prove to be more frustrating that functional. Here are some of the choices:

Bsafe '$49.95 per year' www.bsafehome.com
Content Cleaner $29.99 http://oscaruk.arkada1.hop.clickbank.net
Cyber Patrol £27 www.cyberpatrol.co.uk
Cyber Sentinel $39.95 www.securitysoft.com
Cybersitter $39.95 www.cybersitter.com
Cyber Snoop $49.95 www.pearlsw.com
IProtectYou $34.95 www.softforyou.com
McAfee Privacy Service '$34.95 per year' www.mcafee.com
Net Nanny $39.95 www.netnanny.com
Puresight '$59.95 + $20 per year' www.puresight.net
We-Blocker 'FREE' www.we-blocker.com
(See more choices at www.pin.org.uk/learning/filter.htm)

There are also various online services (some Christian) that work as a proxy to filter content. This list below of mostly US based services is provided by Brigada: 

www.afafilter.com
www.characterlink.net
www.hedgebuilders.com
www.safeaccess.com

The best advice is that if you are concerned about access to offensive content (in particular with your children) then make sure that something is between the user and the content, whether it’s settings, ISP filters, special software or even someone supervising.

For more information on filtering, see www.getsafeonline.org or www.gospelcom.net/guide/webfilter.html 
See what 'Childnet' advises at www.childnet-int.org 

Other useful websites on this topic:

www.nch.org.uk/itok/internet_safety.asp
www.pin.org.uk
www.filterreview.com
www.brigada.org/today/articles/filtered-isps.html

Basically, a 'firewall’ provides an extra line of defense between your computer and the Internet. It can block out unwanted intrusions, whether they are hackers or malicious files, and even make you 'invisible’ on the Net so no-one knows you’re even there.

Symantec recently conducted a survey "To quantify and raise awareness concerning the vulnerability from automated and random hacking attacks for internet users at home and at work." Symantec took a group of 300 computer users, ranging from home users, small businesses and IT directors with remote or laptop users. Each user installed a copy of Norton Personal Firewall onto their machine. After a one month period Symantec collected Intrusion log reports from Norton Personal Firewall showing all intrusion attempts that threatened the system during this month period. The results were staggering.

• 95% of ALL participants were visited by a hacker during the one month survey period.
• In a 14 day period within the one month survey, one user suffered 84 separate attacks.
• There was an average of 50 hacking attempts made each day.
• Research participants spent an average of 2.5 hours online a day.

You can test the security of your computer whilst connected to the Internet by using either the 'Shields Up' facility on the following site (http://grc.com) or Symantec's own free Security Check service (www.symantec.com/securitycheck). They will tell you how vulnerable your computer is whilst connected and how easy it is for someone else to access your files whilst you're online. The Symantec service will also check the effectiveness of your anti-virus software. Some ISPs provide some firewall services (see 'Internet Privacy’ below). There are also stand-alone firewall software products. Here is a selection:

Agnitum Outpost free version 'FREE' www.agnitum.com
eTrust EZ Armor $49.95 www.my-eTrust.com (includes Anti-virus)
(1 year 'FREE' for Microsoft users www.my-etrust.com/microsoft)
Kerio Personal Firewall 'FREE' www.kerio.com
McAfee Firewall £24 www.mcafee-at-home.com (Available in shops)
McAfee Personal Firewall $39.95 www.mcafee.com
M0n0wall 'FREE' www.m0n0.ch/wall
Net Barrier $75 www.intego.com/netbarrier (Mac only) 
Norton Personal Firewall £30 www.symantec.co.uk (Available in shops, also available for Mac)
SmoothWall 'FREE' www.smoothwall.org
Sygate Personal Firewall 'FREE' www.sygate.com
Tiny Personal Firewall 'FREE' www.tinysoftware.com
ZoneAlarm 'FREE’ www.zonelabs.com
DoorStop Personal Firewall $59 www.opendoor.com (Mac only)

Some firewalls also have a design flaw and do not block all that they should, particularly when it comes to 'spyware' (see 'Internet Privacy' below). To test for this flaw, go to http://grc.com/lt/leaktest.htm and download & run the small 'LeakTest' programme. It will check to see if your firewall is vulnerable.
Firewalls are also available in hardware form. These have traditionally been very expensive, but recently small network products have started to incorporate hardware firewalls for under £100. These would be a good option for anyone with a home network (LAN) and broadband connection.
For more information on 'Firewall’ software, see www.getsafeonline.org or www.firewallguide.com/software.htm
For independent reviews about any of these products, see www.dooyoo.co.uk

For some general information and advice about Internet privacy, see www.getsafeonline.org or www.epic.org.

To find out how much information can be gathered by other parties whilst you're online, see www.privacy.net

If you are concerned that your ISP or anyone else can track where you're surfing, there are services and proxy servers that can provide you with an 'anonymous' or secure online presence. Useful if you're in a 'sensitive' situation or suspect you're being 'monitored'. Try these sites:

www.aderes.net
www.anonymizer.com
www.anonymouse.org
www.junkbuster.com
www.pcfss.com/secure-connect
www.privacy.net/proxy

Some websites or even CD ROMs can install 'spyware' on your computer that reports certain information about you back to the spyware's creator via the Internet. This, of course, is a real invasion of Internet privacy. Most firewalls should block this type of activity (see 'LeakTest' paragraph under 'Firewalls' above).

For more information about spyware, see:

www.spyware.co.uk
www.spychecker.com/spyware.html
www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

Check your computer for spyware using one of these FREE online spyware scanners:

www.zonelabs.com/store/content/promotions/pestscan/pestscan2.jsp
www.dciseries.com/products/iscan/webscan.asp
http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/cm/index4.html
www.spywareguide.com/txt_onlinescan.html

For anti-spyware software products, see

www.spywareguide.com
www.spychecker.com/software/antispy.html
www.download.com/spyware-center/2001-2023-0.html

The following services provide secure web-based email for those who already have access to the Internet:

www.cryptoheaven.com
www.esend.org (eSend specialize in secure web-based email for missionaries)
www.hushmail.com

http://info.psmail.net
www.securenym.net
www.yahoo.com
www.ziplip.com

You can also access your POP3 email account (normally accessed with client-based email software) using a secure link from your web browser. It works just like secure web-based email.

www.email4web.com
www.mail2web.com
www.pop3now.com
www.thatweb.com
www.twigger.co.uk

Private Mail Box Network (PMBx)

PMBx is an Internet provider for secure email communications. Their mail server utilizes the secure sockets layer protocol (SSL) which has long been the method for secure commercial internet transactions on the web. This allows for secure connections between mail box users in most areas of the world and their server in the US, ensuring privacy at their local Internet connection. Email can be accessed using standard email software or a standard web browser.
Website: https://www.pmbx.net

For secure client-based email options, see OSCAR - Service zone - Communications - Email

Web Page Design Help

Try the following sites if you need help in designing a web page/site:

www.freesitebuilder.co.uk
www.pagetutor.com

Christian Web Site Designers & Host Providers

The following provide web page design & hosting for individual mission workers (some of them for FREE!):

www.advancedministry.com
www.bluedovedesigns.com
www.ministryhome.org
www.missionary411.com
www.missionaryupdate.com
www.webmissions.org
www.byhisgrace.cc
https://www.world-missionary.com/directory.cfm?org_name=MFTL

Links to other mission workers pages:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christianity/Missions

The following provide web site design and/or hosting services for Christian individuals and/or organisations:

www.ambitnewmedia.com
www.christiantechnology.co.uk
www.church123.com
www.churchedit.co.uk
www.churchhosting.co.uk
www.churchinsight.com
www.churchuk.net/internetservices/webdesign.php
www.faciodesign.co.uk
www.godsweb.co.uk
www.headscape.co.uk
www.inglepine.net
www.instantwebsite.org.uk/nigelspencer
www.moxby.org.uk
www.netreach.co.uk
www.411ministries.com

Other Web Page Host Providers

The FusionPage product makes it easy for anyone to have a great way to communicate, keep supporters up-to-date, and have a private web presence. The FusionPage integrated solution features: -Public Web Page Presence, Secure Encrypted Web 2 Web Email, Secure Intranet and Private Web Page, Built-in HTML Editor to build pages, FusionPage Store/E Commerce and donation, News and announcements, Interactive Calendaring, Photograph Galleries, Streaming Video and Audio, Maps area, Virtual File Cabinet (store files or documents for quick access), Discussion Forums and collaborative group interaction, Collaborative interactive mail for projects, all encrypted.
Website: www.fusionpage.com
( Thanks to BRIGADA for this info)

Web Evangelism Resource for your Website

Add 30-page detailed help-guide on Web Evangelism to your site, just by pasting in a few lines of code. Includes free customized poster. A great addition to any individual or church page.
Website: www.web-evangelism.com/yourpage/link.php

123-reg

This is a web forwarding service that provides low cost domain names and then will forward any users who type in your web address to the web host of your choice. This enables you to have your own personalised web address (i.e. www.fredbloggs.org.uk) but still host your website with a free web space provider.
Website: www.123-reg.co.uk

PDF Creation Software: PDF995

PDF995 has one goal: to create a PDF file from any of your existing electronic documents. And for free. Create a normal document in Word, Excel etc and by simply selecting the 'print' command from any application, you create a PDF file which you can distribute for free.
Website: www.pdf995.com

For other low cost or FREE .pdf alternatives, see www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1190601,00.asp

Blogging Facilities

Try the following sites if you need help in setting up a blog:

www.blogger.com
www.blogsome.com
www.etribes.com

http://missionblogger.com
www.typepad.com
http://wordpress.org

Blogging Advice

Before starting a blog it's important for Christian workers to think about 'security' issues. Ask yourself this question: Will publishing my details on the Web jeopardise the security of my ministry, my organisation's ministry or the lives of those with whom I am associated? If the answer is 'yes', you might consider having an anonymous blog where you don't put anything online through which you can be linked or traced to your individual situation.

Paul Morriss, from Wycliffe Bible Translators, shares his top tips for those starting out in blogging:

1. Be yourself, don't be a mouthpiece for your organisation.
2. Be sensible, everything you say will be archived forever and available to everyone in the world.
3. Write regularly.
4. Link to others, even those you disagree with.
5. Be open and honest.
6. Respond to comments.
7. Read a few relevant blogs before you write, this is a new medium and not like anything else.
   

Faith to Faith, Face to Face

Our vision is to connect  the Christian community throughout the world using cutting-edge internet technology. We make it possible for God' s people to network and fellowship within cities, between nations and across the planet.
Website: www.faithtofaith-facetoface.com
Email: Reallygoodnews@reallygoodnews.co.uk
Tel: 01934 624907